Construction of the 1,154-kilometre fibre line between High Level, Alberta, and Inuvik, NWT, was completed in March 2017. It connects six communities in the Mackenzie Valley to high-speed internet and state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure.

Inuvik’s favourable geographic location is ideal for tracking and receiving data in real-time from polar-orbiting satellites. The activation of the link will support the continued growth of the remote-sensing and commercial satellite industry.

“The MVFL was one of the most ambitious fibre optic network projects undertaken in North America in decades, and it was constructed to strict engineering and environmental standards, on a restricted schedule, in very remote locations with demanding conditions,” said Iain Morris, Chief Operating Officer, Ledcor Technical Services. “Our construction teams, sub-contractors and local partners and suppliers had to be innovative and agile to get the job done, and it was a historic achievement for all involved.”

Quick facts

MVFL comprises the design, build, financing, operations and maintenance installation of a 1,154-kilometre high-speed telecommunications system from McGill Lake (approximately 80-kilometres south of Fort Simpson, NWT), to Inuvik, NWT.

MVLF Point of Presence locations are now located in Fort Simpson, Wrigley, Tulita, Norman Wells, Fort Good Hope, Inuvik, and in High Level.